Chess Puzzle #NDzO9 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen c3; rooks d1/e1; bishop e2; knight d6; pawns a3/b2/c2/e4/f3/g2. Black: king g8; queen h2; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights b8/g6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be6 — bishop c8→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bc4 — bishop e2→c4. Opponent replies Bxc4 (bishop e6→c4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxc4+ — queen c3→c4, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnb2rk1/pp4pp/2pN1pn1/8/4P3/P1Q2P2/1PP1B1Pq/2KRR3 b - - 0 17

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